Volkswagen Showcases Second Generation Touareg Featuring
Hybrid Powertrain at the 2010 New York International Auto Show - VIDEO
ENHANCED

HERNDON, Va., March 31 -- Volkswagen of America, Inc. today unveiled the
second generation Touareg, showcasing the brand's first-ever hybrid at the
2010 New York International Auto Show.

Taking the Touareg to the forefront of its class are three available
engines to suit a variety of different drivers: A V6 FSIŽ gasoline engine,
a V6 TDIŽ Clean Diesel engine, and a V6 TSIŽ gasoline hybrid engine.

With the hybrid model, a 3.0-liter supercharged, direct injection V6
gasoline engine is paired with a special electric motor that reduces fuel
consumption and CO2 emissions by about 40 percent.

An eight-speed automatic transmission - the first of its kind in an SUV
- keeps power always available while helping the Touareg Hybrid achieve
approximately 25 and 21 mpg during highway and city driving respectively. A
special clutch can disengage the transmission from the engine when the
engine is not powering the Touareg, allowing it to coast forward emission
free to further aid in fuel savings. The electric motor can also recover
kinetic energy during braking to help recharge the nickel metal-hydride
battery pack. With the V6 engine and electric motor combined, a total of
375 horsepower and 428 lbs.-ft. of torque are available, allowing for full
towing capacity of up to 7,700 pounds.

Click PLAY to watch video

Also available is Volkswagen's 3.0-liter, V6 TDIŽ Clean Diesel engine,
which offers improved fuel economy, reduced emissions, and greater power
versus a similarly-sized gasoline engine, and is an excellent complement to
the new Touareg's athletic design. A 3.6-liter, V6 FSIŽ gasoline engine
comes standard with the 2011 model, providing smooth acceleration and all
around performance. On all Touareg models, Volkswagen's 4MOTIONŽ all-wheel
drive system is ready to tackle nearly any driving condition encountered on
and off the road.

Matching the new Touareg's refinements under the hood is a fully-revised
exterior that embraces the brand's new face and styling cues, created by
Volkswagen's chief of design, Walter de'Silva.

At the front is a narrower grille opening that seamlessly connects to
the trapezoidal headlight housings that carry U-shaped LED running lights
and Bi-Xenon High Intensity Gas-Discharged headlamps. The housings flow
into the new fender flares, and a pair of compact fog lamps at the lower
portion of the front fascia stand underneath the Touareg's front air
intakes.

The hood features a raised portion that runs from the grille back,
finishing at the side mirrors and giving a more muscular overall
appearance. A chrome accent strip carries from behind the front wheels, and
runs along the bottom of the doors to complement the chrome touches
bordering the windows.

The back of the Touareg is defined with pronounced curves around the
hatch area, LED illuminated taillights with housings to match up front, and
a blacked out lower bumper with a set of shaped, chrome exhaust tips.

Compared to its predecessor, the 2011 Touareg is wider and has a shorter
overall height for a stronger presence. A longer wheelbase and greater
length provide greater stability, and more room inside the cabin, while the
use of new materials and other adjustments have removed nearly 450 pounds
from the vehicle.

Click PLAY to watch a Touareg having fun in the desert

The Touareg's interior has also been refined, making for a better use of
space for both the driver and passengers, as well as in the cargo area. The
greater use of curves and further attention to details on the door and dash
trim coincide with redesigned, full leather seating for five, and
cross-stitching on all panels and surfaces. Both the front and rear
passengers can enjoy greater legroom with the Touareg's new overall
dimensions and fully adjustable seats, while the rear seatback can be
folded at the touch of a button in the trunk, for more storage and
convenience.

A seven-inch widescreen color display located between the main gauges in
the dash provides the driver with the latest vehicle status information,
including of the drive system in the hybrid model, turn-by-turn navigation
directions, and more.

Volkswagen's new RNS850 touch screen entertainment and navigation system
features an 8-inch screen, a 60GB hard drive with 18GB of space available
to upload audio, video, and more, and a DVD/CD player with MP3 playback and
Satellite/FM/AM stereo. The navigation system can display maps and
directions in a 3-D view, and highlights major landmark highlights to
further assist when traveling.

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